Windows 8 is the current release of the Windows operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers. It was released on October 26, 2012 after several pre-release versions. Windows 8 introduced a new "Start screen" with dynamic tiles instead of the traditional Start menu, and the Windows Store for downloading apps. It also included security and privacy enhancements over previous versions of Windows.

2. • Windows 8 is the current release of the Windows
operating system, produced by Microsoft for use on
personal computers, including home and business
desktops, laptops, tablets, and home theater PCs.
Development of Windows 8 started before the release of
its predecessor in 2009. Its existence was first announced
at CES 2011, and followed by the release of three pre-
release versions from September 2011 to May 2012. The
operating system was released to manufacturing on August
1, 2012, and was released for general availability on
October 26, 2012.

3. Windows 8
Windows RT Windows 8
Pro
Great built-in apps like Mail, Calendar, Messaging, Photos, and
SkyDrive, with many more available from the Windows Store.
Includes Internet Explorer 10 for fast, intuitive browsing.
Keeps you up to date and more secure with Windows Defender,
Windows Firewall, and Windows Update.
Runs programs you used with previous versions of Windows.
Provides enhanced data protection using BitLocker technology
to help keep your information secure.
Comes with Office Home & Student 2013 RT Preview preinstalled
so you can do more out of the box.
Enables you to connect to your PC when you're on the go with
Remote Desktop Connection.
Connects to your corporate or school network with Domain join.

4. The Start screen is the successor
of the Start menu. This feature is
present in Windows Phone,
Windows 8, and Windows Server
2012. The Start screen is
designed for touch interaction
and uses dynamic tiles instead of
static computer icons to represent
applications. Such tiles may
update the user of the status of
software. For example, the tile for
the Messages app can show
recent messages the user has
received.

5.  Additional security features in Windows 8 include two new
authentication methods tailored towards touchscreens (PINs and
picture passwords), the addition of antivirus capabilities to Windows
Defender (bringing it in parity with Microsoft's Security Essentials
software) SmartScreen filtering integrated into the desktop, and
support for the "Secure Boot" functionality on UEFI systems to
protect against malware infecting the boot process. Parental controls
are offered through the integrated Family Safety software, which
allows parents to monitor and control their children's activities on a
device with activity reports and safety controls. Windows 8 also
provides integrated system recovery through the new "Refresh" and
"Reset" functions. Windows 8's first security patches would be released
on 13 November 2012, it would contain three critical (most severe as
per Microsoft) fixes.

6. The Windows Store is a digital
distribution platform in Microsoft's
Windows 8 and Windows RT
operating system. The platform can
be used to provide listings for
desktop applications certified to run
on Windows 8, but is also the
primary distribution platform for a
new type of app called "Windows
Store apps".

7.  Special exceptions are given to web browsers classified as being "New
experience enabled" (formerly "Metro-style enabled"), which can provide a
special version to run within the "Metro" shell. Unlike other apps, they can
be coded using Win32 code instead of Win RT (allowing the reuse of code
from their desktop versions), permanently run in the background, use
multiple background processes, and are distributed with desktop web
browsers rather than through the Windows Store. Despite these looser
restrictions, they can still take advantage of features typically reserved for
Windows Store apps, such as the use of contracts to link to other apps.
However, only the user's default web browser can be used in this setting.
 The developers of both Chrome and Firefox both committed to developing
versions of their browsers to run in the app environment; while Chrome's
app simply back ports the existing desktop interface, Firefox's (which is
currently available in development versions) uses a touch-optimized
interface inspired by the mobile version of Firefox.

8. On February 19, 2012, Microsoft confirmed
that in Windows 8 the Windows logo will be
significantly updated to reflect the new
Metro design language. The logo was
designed by Pentagram partner Paula Scher.
The formerly flag-shaped logo has been
transformed into four window panes,
perspective was added, and the entire logo
will be rendered in a single solid color,
which will depend on the user's
personalization changes.

9. Internet Explorer 10 (IE10) is a version of
the Internet Explorer web browser
released by Microsoft in 2012, and is the
default browser in Windows 8.
On 12 April 2011, Microsoft released the
first "IE10 Platform Preview", which
runs only on Windows 7 and later. While
the second platform preview was also
available for Windows 7 and later,
subsequent platform previews run only
on Windows 8. The first preview release
came four weeks after the final release of
Internet Explorer 9. IE10 reached general
availability on 4 September 2012 as a
component of Windows Server 2012.
A preview of IE10 for Windows 7 was
made available for download in
November 2012.

10. Windows Explorer, which has been
renamed File Explorer, now
incorporates a ribbon toolbar, designed
to bring forward the most commonly
used commands for easy access. The
"Up" button (which advances the user
back a level in the folder hierarchy) that
was removed from Explorer after
Windows XP has also been restored.
Additionally, File Explorer features a
redesigned preview pane that takes
advantage of widescreen layouts. File
Explorer also provides a built-in
function for mounting ISO, IMG, and
VHD files as virtual drives.
The Ribbon in File
Explore on Windows 8